Raj Kapoor’s socialist leanings come into full force in the film. Children’s films weren’t the norm those days and Kapoor took a gamble by producing a film that looked into the plight of homeless children. It depicted how the destitute care for each other despite having nothing at their disposal. It suggested a way of uplifting orphaned children, in that rich childless couples should adopt them. Baby Naaz and Master Rattan stood out as the protagonists while David, who plays the kindly bootlegger John Chacha, gave a great performance as a street smart crook and won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. The film is remembered for its Nanhe munne bachche song, as also the classical parody, Lapak jhapak tu aa re badarwa, sung by Manna Dey. Such is its impact still that the story of children of a lesser God still brings a lump in the throat.

DID YOU KNOW?

1. Raj Kapoor appeared in his tramp avatar from Shri 420 in an uncredited blink-and -you-miss-it scene where he's shown travelling in a local train compartment.